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Gotabhaya Rajapaksa And His Bala Sena

“Is there no asylum safe enough from your insane and blinded fury?”Schiller (The Bride of Messina)

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest at the opening of Meth Sevana, the Buddhist Leadership Academy of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS). In his speech Mr. Rajapaksa said that he decided to attend the event “after realising its timely importance”; according to him, “these Buddhist clergy who are engaged in a nationally important task should not be feared or doubted by anyone” (Sri Lanka Mirror – 10.3.2013).

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s decision to publicly associate himself with the BBS is of inestimable significance. Anti-minoritism is the creed of the BBS, cowing the minorities its raison d’être. Igniting an anti-Muslim Black July seems to be its ‘nationally important task’. When the über-powerful Defence Secretary, the man who controls the police and the military, gives a character certificate to such a violently divisive organisation, it is not a happy portent. Even before Mr. Rajapaksa’s decision to bare his links with the BBS, its lay and ordained enforcers were able to break the law with near total impunity. After Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s ringing endorsement, not a single police/military official is going to lift a finger either to restrain the BBS goons or to save their victims.

The transformation of the police from spectators to enforcers of the BBS illegal and unethical deeds is already underway, going by media reports. “After the discussion the Secretary of Defence today (13) ‘not only the removal of the Halal logo, the entire process is done away with it and the police has been directed to attend do the rest’ the Convenor of the Bodu Bala Sena, Galagoda Aththe Gnansara Thera told …… ‘Our doubts were all cleared during our discussion with the Secretary of Defence’ the Thera said. ‘The removal of products with the Halal logo from the wholesale market would have taken three years according to the manufacturers. It is not practical to wait that long. The police have been directed to remove these products from the wholesale market’, the Thera revealed. The IGP has been instructed accordingly”[i].

If accurate, this news portends a future in which the BBS will be able to wreak havoc at will, with active police/military backing – until Gotabhaya Rajapaksa decides to withdraw his patronage. The Rajapaksas are addicted to using and discarding. Eventually the BBS too will be marginalised into insignificance. But until that day dawns, it can cause limitless and irreparable damage to Sri Lanka and all her citizens.

The BBS may or may not be a Rajapaksa-creation. But it is hard to believe that it could have become the behemoth it is, in just 10 months, without Rajapaksa patronage. In today’s Sri Lanka, in order to get ahead and thrive, one needs Rajapaksa backing, be it in politics, business or other fields of endeavour. Had the Rajapaksas wanted, they could have nipped the BBS in the bud. The Siblings do not hesitate to ignore, restrain and even threaten the topmost Buddhist priests, when it is in their interests to do so. If they allow the BBS to run amok, it is out of choice.

The BBS, knowingly or unknowingly, is starring in drama of Rajapaksa making.

Under the auspices of President Rajapaksa, his brothers and sons are competing with each other to build up their own fiefdoms, within the overall dynastic project. Basil Rajapaksa is the ‘Development Czar’; the Divineguma Bill was aimed at expanding his fiefdom. Namal Rajapaksa has ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ and ‘Nil Balakaya’.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is indubitably more powerful than either Brother Basil or Nephew Namal. He effectively controls the military, the police and the UDA. The militarization of civil spaces is being undertaken partly as a way of maintaining his relevance, post-war. In post-war Sri Lanka, his power has remained undiminished. But what he can do with that power has shrunk drastically, outside of the North and the East. Of course there are white vans and other extra-judicial activities. Of course he remains the most feared man inSri Lanka. But in the absence of a discernible enemy and a manifest conflict, apart from lording it over North Eastern Tamils, his most prominent public role has been that of the chief park-and-exercise-track-builder and the inaugurator of the Ranaviru Real Star.

Perhaps the BBS can change all that, and enable Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to play the hero again, by giving the Sinhalese a new enemy? If the BBS can conjure a half-way credible ‘Islamic threat’, Mr. Rajapaksa can don his warrior-guise again and find some real uses for the unlimited power he enjoys in his brother’s country.

LTTE, BBS and GR

InSri Lanka, several political entities have claimed the sole representative status of their ‘chosen people’, chosen on the basis of primordial identity – ethnicity/religion. The LTTE made that claim on behalf of the Tamils. The Rajapaksas make that claim on behalf of the Sinhalese. The BBS has taken over the JHU’s banner of ‘the sole representative of Sinhala-Buddhists’.

The perennial search for enemies undertaken by such entities does not stop with the ethnic/religious other. It often turns inwards, targeting those of one’s own race/religion who refuse to accept the worldview of the self-anointed ‘sole representative’. The Tigers considered anti-Tiger Tamils to be an enemy on par with (and at times even greater than) the Lankan state. The Rajapaksas often reserve their most vicious ire for those Sinhalese (the ‘anti-patriots’ according to the Siblings’ lexicon) who refuse to become their acolytes.

The BBS is no different.

When the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) announced its compromise solution to the BBS created ‘Halal problem’, several senior Buddhist priests lauded that decision. Prominent among them was the scholar-monk, Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thero who stated that the BBS is not the sole-voice of Lankan monks. “He noted that in any community there are extremists, fundamentalists and other elements. Bellanwila Wimalaratana thera said that the Buddhist clergy in Sri Lanka do not want to create a conflict between communities” (Colombo Gazette – 11.3.2013).

At its Maharagama rally, BBS livewire Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thero heaped invective on those Buddhist priests who disagree with the BBS’s extremist vision and divisive antics. After a violent verbal assault on Muslims and the Ulemas[ii], the monk turned his venomous-attention on moderate Buddhist priests: “There are some Buddhist monks who are like those evil forces. They have the robe round their shoulders. But these fellows just lack the cap of the Muslim man. They sit with those capped men and are creating unlimited impediments to our attempts to build this nation….. Do not allow room in the temples for these unethical/immoral forces”[iii].

Vellupillai Pirapaharan could have had a de facto Eelam on a platter. But he wanted to win a de jure Eelam on the battlefield. That extremist path brought him to an ignoble death. The BBS is not content with its ‘Halal victory’. It wants to inflict ever greater humiliations on Lankan Muslims. That extremism will cause its undoing, eventually. It ignominious fall may undermine its patron Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (and his brothers); or not. But its toxic life will indubitably bring disrepute, dishonour and disaster to the religious-community it claims to be the sole-representative of.

A clarification: I am not back with the Sunday Leader. The paper is carrying already published material, with strategic cuts.

Latest comments

i am sri lankan/March 15, 2013

Bodu bala aint tht srilla
Jus smoke a soosthi n keeps it chilla
Hey holmie we aint enemy
Just doing our thang its plain to see
Hey holmie then dont eat that meat
Hey holmie don’t stress them girls
Bodu bala aint that srilla
Jus smoke a soosthi n keeps it chilla
8 fold path stick to it
5 pillars stick to it
Forget halal
with this inflation
You wont have shit to eat
So bodu bala hiit the street
rally against this dictatorship
keeps it srilla keeps it chillla
we multi ethnic n thts fo rilla
Rep tht srilla yeah no doubt
Srilla srilla just shout it out
Srilla srilla is what we about!

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Walter/March 15, 2013

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What a shame BBS and their followers lack the intellectual capacity to understand the noble truths of Buddhism and thereby have become the biggest threat to the greatest religion. Do they think Lord Buddha will ever approve their actions? Why on earth do they insult Him by using His name. I cannot think of any other Buddhist country where the monks are so stupid.

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Native Vedda/March 15, 2013

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Walter

“What a shame BBS and their followers lack the intellectual capacity to understand the noble truths of Buddhism and thereby have become the biggest threat to the greatest religion”

Please let me know at least one person who has the intellectual capacity to understand the noble truths of Buddhism out of the 20 odd million population?

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Dan/March 15, 2013

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No doubt, partiuclar hamuruduwo should be taken to custody banning the movement. This is imperative.

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didi van der wert/July 14, 2013

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yes in SL particularly many young Sinhalease are fed up with monks behavior acting like thugs, they lost all respect. Buddhism will be lost,Islam is the fastest growing religious in the West. In spite of bad publicity in media, Islam is spreading like wild fire. Many monks have converted to islam secretly. I know personally two monks who converted to Islam, although I am a catholic, I just cant figure out how things can change. The more anti-Islamic campaign, the more converts to Islam.

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PEACELOVER../March 15, 2013

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HI ,Author,

Dont just write ” Budhist Priests ‘ instead you should always write as ” BUDHDA BEGGERS ” ( IN PALI ,BHIKKU MEANS BEGGERS ) Budha taught these monks to go door to door for food..Hence these monks are becoming BEGGERS so that they are called ” BUDHDHA BEGGERS OR BUDHDHA HINGANNAYA..

Today in Fort railway station 04 muslim girls students were mocked by BU(L)DHIST THUGS AS THEY WERE WEARING ” HABAYA ” DRESS.. But other kind and good peaceful BUDHIST BROTHERS chased these BUDHA KAADAYOS and saved these muslim girls….

we can believe that there are still GOOD BUDDHISTS LIVING IN SRI LANKA..

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Anjana/July 14, 2013

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Brother I think you have caught wrong thing from a wrong place. I have mentioned here a definition which is provided by Sanskrit Brahamans. In its real sense Bhikkhu means the person who sees the suffering or the real nature of this existence. ( samsare bhyam ikkhatiti Bhikkhu). on the other hand in Sri Lanka monks have inherited traditional duty. this land has offered to Buddhism three times by various kings. in all over the history monks has acquainted as the protectors of the Nation. when the king Dutugamunu launching a war against the Tamil terrorism at that time monks undertake the major part of that national revolution.
how so ever lunatics like you cannot stop this national force. As Buddhist we are ready to do what ever thing to protect our monks. Dogs like you always bark to rising moon. but you cannot stop the moon. that is the true nature of the world.

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Thilak Dissanyake, Pallekekele/March 16, 2013

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Look at the image in TG’s brilliant article. This bloke Galagoda Gnanasara is the new hero. He looks a worldy brute and not a member of the holy sangha. I think of Buddharakkita, that blackguard in the yellow robe who slept with Wimala and murdered SWRD. We must form a movement to drive out these specimens.

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Native Vedda/March 16, 2013

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Thilak Dissanyake, Pallekekele

“We must form a movement to drive out these specimens.”

Name it “Reclaim Buddhism”.

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DInu/March 16, 2013

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Thisaranee is a one person’s opinion and not the final truth. We need to protect our country, nation and religion. If we see any threat ahead we need to act and solve it before a disaster.
Other religions should understand that they got to live with majority buddhist population and should not make a disturbance and ensure peace and friendship all times.
How come Ulama impose Halal products on non-muslims? why Thisaranee cannot write about that ?
Like wise any unforeseen threats to our country should be sorted out by BBS or any one, no matter whom they are!
Hope Thisaranee is not paid by a third party to write this article.

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Alavi/March 16, 2013

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@Dinu, you are correct to say that we must protect our country, nation and religion. Yes, if you see any threat ahead, we must act and solve it before a disaster

I am of the opinion your aspiration of “our country, our nation and our religion” had been devastated by BBS/JHU/SR by spreading venomous formula for disharmony, jealousy, threat and hate among Buddhist brothers and sisters, with whom we have studied together, being working together and especially living as good and respected neighbors until this moment.

I am not clear from your write up why should only other religions should think of co-existence with majority Buddhist. Why is it not the responsibility of all of us irrespective of which religion, cast or race they belongs to

Have the ACJU (Ulaama) tried to impose Halaal on majority Buddhist or is it BBS created this doubts among majority Buddhist brother and sisters.

Halaal is not imposed on anyone, instead is a guarantee for Muslim consumers that product is suitable for Muslims, by this producers got to ensure that there is no pork or alcohol in it.

What is good, product with Alcohol and Pork or otherwise. This is just a question of ingredients of a product, nothing else. Do you like bread that is made out of ingredients called L-Cyesteine, a chemical mainly sourced from human hair, duck feathers etc., You guys must thanks ACJU for removing animal fats, chemicals made out of human hair and Alcohol from nearly 4000 products you have been consuming for past 10 years.

Who are these Ulamaas? You might have seen that how patiently they are guiding the Muslim community despite so many allegations leveled against them by another clergy group.

First of all, for a clergy group, is it right to come out and expose matters so venomously. BBS had failed to contact ACJU for clarifications instead ACJU had visited them twice to clarify the issue of Halaal.

Another problem to BBS / JHU / SR is Hijaab and Nikaab. This is not a surprise when BBS find a new world after 30 years of war, because surely BBS members never came out to public during wartime.

I remember in early 1990’s during my undergraduate time in University of Colombo, there were many Muslim undergraduates covered their face, I remember even in my early ages, there were many Muslims covered their faces. How come face covering become an issue, when there weren’t single report of misuse of Hijaab or Nikaab during wartime

I suggest you understand the hidden agenda of BBS/JHU/SR for creating disharmony among communities rather than misinterpreting the present situation.

Halaal products are not god saved or products made as per Islamic ritual, it is just mix of ingredients free of Pork and Alcohol. This point is clarified many times but BBS/JHU/SR had already spread their venomous formula for disharmony, jealousy, threat and hate, yet we believe still majority of Buddhist rejects the formula.

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Marwan/March 18, 2013

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What you say is True and very correct. By the way, do you know why the much hyped Niqab, Hijab, Abaya was not brought up by BBS meeting on Sunday 17/Mar. I have informed by a source, but not sure if it accurate, may be speculation/ It was that the pressure was from Pakistan on SL Government to stop it, and prevent BBS from bringing it up. BBS too said they will not persue the Halal issue anymore and will leave it to the police to administer the law in this respect. Their next target is to take over Kuragala (Jailani for Muslims) and claim it to be theirs. I don’t think many Muslims will mind that.

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Thambiya/March 18, 2013

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Dinu what you say has meaning, and proper solution should be brought about by a debate on the various issues and not by a vigilante police force like the balu sena,

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GotaLanka/March 19, 2013

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Jayawewa! We wish punters an outright membership in the idiocracy.

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Sinhala Voice/March 16, 2013

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One is not surprised to see Thisranee’s treacherous comments against anything and anybody supporting Sinhala Buddhists. She thinks so highly of western cultures, she startes with a quote from a western tragedy. Look near to home Thisarnee for Sinhala culture I am sure there are many suitable quotes that you can choose from. May be she thinks a quote from one’s own culture would not be sufficient to show off.

Please turn back to the history of Sri Lanka to see that when the Sinhala Buddhists were persecuted by the colonials ot the Kalu duddhas of our own country who turned against their own Buddhist and culture, it was always the Buddhist Sangha who came to the rescue of Sinhalanation. From the days of Rev Hikkaduwe Sri Sumanagala who fought against the Colonials to Rev Athureliya Rathana who started the challege to the LTTE and opened the eyes of Rajapakse regime unify the country , we have been blessed with the Buddhist Sangha to act at the the right time. Bodu Bala sena is also a blessing which has arisen at the right time under the patronage of Rev Kirama Wimaljothi and Rev Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara to open the eyes of not only the Sinhala Buddist public but also of the current rulers of the country.
It is high time that BBS raised their vioce and become the driving force for Buddhists as the Mahanayaka’s are to comfortable in their seats in Kandy to do anyhting for the Sinhal Buddhists. Dear Thisarnee, when you come up with this type of treachorous artciles, it reminds us of the famous words of Rev S Mahinda thero ” AS GEDI WALALTA HENA GAHALADA SIHELUNNE”.

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Uditha/March 16, 2013

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“Holding on to Hatred is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” — The Buddha

Be a Buddhist! Don’t be a fanatic of BBS they are politically motivated goons, new concept of under worlds.

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Native Vedda/March 16, 2013

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Sinhala Voice

“it was always the Buddhist Sangha who came to the rescue of Sinhalanation.”

Was there a Sinhala nation before 1948?

When and how Buddhist Sangha rescue the Sinhalanation?

Why didn’t the Buddhist Sangha rescue the nation from 500 years of Western Colonialism? Were they hiding behind their women folks?

Why didn’t the Buddhist Sangha protect the North East from IPKF?
Is it because Buddhist Sangha accepted the North East to be Tamilnation?

I have another thousand question for you. This suffice for the time being.

Please bear with me for I am bit thick.

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Lewke Bandara/March 18, 2013

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“I am not worried about the opinion of the Tamil people… now we cannot
think of them, not about their lives or their opinion.. the more you
put pressure in the north, the happier the Sinhala people will be
here… Really if I starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be
happy.”
– President J.R. Jayawardene, Daily Telegraph 11th July 1983

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Thambiya/March 18, 2013

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The Buddhist sanga created the chaos that Sri Lanka underwent in the past 30 years. When Sri Lanka emerged as an independent nation it was widely predicted that Sri Lanka will be one of Asias economic tigers. John kothalawela told SWRD don’t release the saffron robed dogs, but that was not to be, Sinhala Buddhists hounded the Tamils to an extent that they were compelled to fight for a separate state.

And now that the government has won a decisive victory over the Tamil separatists, these hardline Sinhala Buddhists have focused there attention on the Muslims, and now, we shall see history repeating itself.

May god save this debacle of Asia.

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Thambiya/March 18, 2013

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If I may be so bold, Sri Lanka was better under the British than under the current native rulers. What a shame!!!!

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Athacolla/March 16, 2013

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It’s a pity that SF and GR episode was sprung upon the Sinhala psyche if that event had not occurred GR’s credentials would not be questioned. Gotah’s presence would give BBS a moderating influence. The opposition is unhappy that they did not have the vision to question the society, we need a strong opposition for the nation. So members of the opposition please don’t pay lip service to the liberal and the corrupt world we live in, make friends and foe. Most of all, be innovative and contribute to the process of governing the nation.
The dialogue between Islam and Buddhism is a positive event the result could be a benefit to the world. Moderation of the dialogue needs a master lime GR not a clown like ?????.

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Athacolla/March 16, 2013

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It’s a pity that SF and GR episode was sprung upon the Sinhala psyche if that event had not occurred GR’s credentials would not be questioned. Gotah’s presence would give BBS a moderating influence. The opposition is unhappy that they did not have the vision to question the society, we need a strong opposition for the nation. So members of the opposition please don’t pay lip service to the liberal and the corrupt world we live in, make friends and foe. Most of all, be innovative and contribute to the process of governing the nation.
The dialogue between Islam and Buddhism is a positive event the result could be a benefit to the world. Moderation of the dialogue needs a master like GR not a clown like ?????.

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BunkerRat/March 16, 2013

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I am no fan of any side but would like to see issues resolved through dialogue. Only the weaker side would give up that route and resort to violence.

It’s good to see numerous support and lobby groups in Sri Lanka re-confirming to all concerned that we are truly a democratic nation.

Whatever said and done, if the Tamil terrorists were still around in the country, these articles probably would not be here.

For me, the peace we now have is priceless.

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vidhura/March 17, 2013

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where were the bodu balu sena when LTTE were kicking their asses ???

if they wanted to follow the pancil – first must close all the wine shops ????
They are asking for a jihad to get their asses kicked – sinhalaya always modaya never learn a lesson …………..

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Native Vedda/March 17, 2013

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BunkerRat

“It’s good to see numerous support and lobby groups in Sri Lanka re-confirming to all concerned that we are truly a democratic nation.”

Democratic nation????

I think you have made a typo.

Shouldn’t it read Sinhala/Buddhist semi theo-kleptocracy.

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Chandana Kumara/March 17, 2013

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It was made known that Jamayyathul Ulama organisation was NOT vested with a legal power to issue Halaal Certificates. IF that is TRUE, then issuing such a certificate for many years by them was illegal. Then, bringing such a thing to the notice of the public and ordering them to discontinue the practise is a good deed by BBS, though there is concern in the WAY they did it.

Prohibiting Halaal in this manner can only be wrong if issuance of the certificate was a legal authority vested on them.

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Gamini/March 17, 2013

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My feeling is that this is an attempt to create disharmony and riots in the country so that the state of emergency can be re-introduced. Then the govt has a reason to tell the international community while continuing the murderous ways of the party. ‘The Rajapaksas are addicted to using and discarding’ comes very appropriate here.

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Anushka/March 17, 2013

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Great piece Tisaranee.. It is refreshing to know that some of us still have the courage to defy..

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Antany Peter/March 17, 2013

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Can you imagine what India would do to its neighbours if it has a permanent seat on the United Nations’ Security Council? Do you believe India’s neighbours would ever support India to get a permanent seat on the United Nations’ Security Council? India created the LTTE and the Westerners made them as the most dangerous terrorist organisation. Do you really believe that India and the Westerners are concern about Sri Lanka’s development? As soon as the Tamil Diaspora leaders do anything good for their motherland they will lose their status, won’t be able to get a job, won’t be able to have a place to live, will be isolated from their family and community by the powerful Western propaganda. The self-centred Tamil Diaspora leaders are not ready to sacrifice their life for their country. They haven’t sacrificed anything in the last 30 years, so don’t expect too much from them. Sri Lanka’s prosperity is a threat to India. The Indians are not going to live without toilets, while the Sri Lankans, Singaporeans and Malaysians are having better life. Indians will fight for separation, if Sri Lanka become Singapore. Therefore, Sri Lankans have to constantly battle with the Tamil Diaspora, Westerners and Indians to develop their country.

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Senguttuvan/March 18, 2013

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It will only be a pathetic simpleton who will deny as to who created the militants – not just the Tigers alone – who, at any rate, came later after VP destroyed most of the others in the most savage and non-socialist manner. The question to be asked is why was India forced to take those steps in the 1980s – and not before? This is a serious matter and those who try to preach must know their facts accurately.
Read the fears of KM Panikkar expressed in the 1950s when you address your mind to the matter as well as how Finland managed their affairs without causing security concerns to their immediate neighbour – the giant Soviet Union.

How a country gets a place in the Security Council follows certain established processes. From all accounts it looks like India may get her place soon – after a long wait. Her major obstacle will be China, who is also now a responsible Power in the world, committed to maintain UN’s founding principles and its future as an effective Policeman to the World. Admittedly, on the wider national scale, India will take a long time to reach those social parameters and conformity with the various minimum UN Indexes notably on public health, literacy, cleanliness and so on where Sri Lanka is well ahead.

“LTTE – the most dangerous Terrorist Organisation in the world” is good for debates in the drinking joints of the usual water holes – and for politicians here feeding on the ignorance of the Sinhala voter. That “distinction” goes to Al Qaeda, earlier to the PLO – who posed global threats. LTTE’s potency was in the Sri Lankan area.

The Tamil Diaspora, as I saw and analyse, are committed to offer succour and protection to the Tamils in Sri Lanka – the attacks against whom in different direct and subtle forms, has in no way abated. Their (TD) interest will recede once the Tamils in the Island secure a greater degree of normalcy and satisfactory rights of citizenship. Occasionally, surviving LTTE “business” interests manage to get a few flags in now and then abroad – mainly to get into the news. This is generally frowned upon by most Tamils in the diaspora to get greater focus to secure peace and minimum rights to their people in the Island. They privately want their demos/protests to be free of an LTTE-content. Otherwise, the early LTTE threat to the diaspora Tamils – condemned to blackmail by way of forced “contributions” – are all now are a thing of the past. Diaspora Tamils are now far too keen to work with the GoSL and with the Sinhala South if the economical interests and assurances to the land, assets and their properties of remaining Tamils are guaranteed.

Senguttuvan

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SonGotaAVan/March 19, 2013

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SungoHota, refine your pugnacious arguments to the sensibility appropriate of an adult.

“LTTE – the most dangerous Terrorist Organisation in the world” is good for debates in the DRINKING JOINTS of the usual water holes – and for politicians here feeding on the ignorance of the Sinhala voter.

Does “drinking joints of the usual water holes” make any sense?
Are your water holes gone that much thalidomide?

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Never4getyrpast/March 18, 2013

Does anyone realise that if Maharajah does not squash this now BBS and Gotarajah would vanquish the Maharajah. He will not have a seat to sit on, neither a carpet under his feet.

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Duminda Rathnayake/March 19, 2013

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Dear Sir (Defence Secretary)

You have proved that As you are a sinhala buddhist Man who came from real sinhala family. Early we were helpless, nobody involved to protect our Sinhala Buddhists like you . We are really proud of you and God Bless you.
Our Histry will talk to you.
Go Ahead
We Love You

Duminda

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RamonDum/March 19, 2013

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Histry should be read as “Hysteria’.

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Sithy Hussain/March 20, 2013

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A little ‘deviation’ to put things in perspective – a wriiten comment from a leader par excellence who ruled his country with an iron fist steering it away from communal riots and racial discrimination – a better example to follow, perhaps?

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew has urged local Muslims to “be less strict on Islamic observances” to aid integration and the city-state’s nation-building process.
Singapore has a predominantly Chinese population, with minority races including Muslim Malays and Indians, and Lee has always stressed the importance of racial harmony.
“I would say today, we can integrate all religions and races except Islam,” he said in “Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going,” a new book containing his typically frank views on the city-state and its future.
“I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration — friends, intermarriages and so on…” he stated.
“I think the Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate,” Lee added, calling on the community to “be less strict on Islamic observances.”

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Muliyawaikkal/July 14, 2013

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IF Gota has ANYTHING to do with BBS, he should get all army personnel get into BBS.

Then BBS will be the most powerful in the country.

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